Mitzi J. Budde, head librarian and professor at Virginia Theological Seminary, writes about the library’s growing collection:
Strength calls to strength, and donations beget donations. Last week Bishop Payne Library received delivery of the J. Reilly Lewis Collection, a donation of 1,900 books, 3,600 music CDs, and 7,000 scores. Dr. Lewis (1944-2016) was founding director of the Washington Bach Consort and long-time music director of the Cathedral Choral Society. Dr. Lewis’ widow, Beth Lewis, was inspired to donate to Bishop Payne Library by Blanche Curfman’s donation of the David R. Curfman, M.D., Collection of Sacred Music and Liturgy (10,500 items of sacred music scores, octavos, and hymnals) in January 2016. Mrs. Curfman’s donation in turn had been inspired by the library’s acquisition of the Charles Winfred Douglas and Elmer and Esther Beamer collections (2,300 rare books related to hymnology, liturgy, and church music) from the Washington National Cathedral in December 2012.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
